Can I Get Smoother, Younger-Looking Skin Without Surgery?

When we’re kids, we can’t wait until we’re older and can do adult things. When we’re all grown up, though, we spend a fortune trying to look younger than our calendar age. But is a major surgical procedure, such as a face-lift or rhinoplasty, the best way to achieve your goals?

According to oculofacial plastic surgeon Dr. Dustin Heringer at Arizona Ocular & Facial Plastic Surgery, you can get smoother, younger-looking skin without surgery. The practice offers numerous treatments that may not last as long as a face-lift, but they don’t require scalpels, anesthesia, or much, if any, downtime. Here’s what’s available and how these treatments can help.

Nonsurgical aesthetic treatments

When it comes to noninvasive or minimally invasive treatments, you have several different options.

Neuromodulators

Neuromodulators are substances that prevent dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles caused by facial movement) from forming by interfering with the nerve’s signal telling the muscle to contract. Without stimulus, the muscle relaxes, and the wrinkles fade into the background.

We offer three different neuromodulators: Botox® Cosmetic, Dysport®, and Xeomin®, each of which works slightly differently. Botox was the first to be FDA approved, and it’s the wrinkle-buster people know best. It’s recommended for reducing the signs of aging that develop around the eyes, such as crow’s feet, and in the brow, such as the vertical lines between the eyes, known as the 11s.

Dysport is derived from the same source as Botox, but it contains a protein with a smaller circumference. This means it can spread farther from the injection site (about 3 cm, compared with Botox’s 1 cm), allowing for softer, more nuanced changes to the treatment area.

Xeomin is a “naked” drug containing no additives, which means it presents a much lower risk of developing antibodies against the serum than Botox. Such antibodies can undermine the treatment’s effects or even trigger an allergic reaction. Because of the different formulation, Dr. Heringer doesn’t use this interchangeably with Botox and Dysport.

Results last 3-4 months, after which you can have another treatment.

Dermal fillers

Dermal fillers are substances that shore up skin that’s lost volume due to aging. The supplies of collagen and elastin, two structural proteins of which we had ample stores in our youth, start to decline in our mid-20s, leaving hollows in the cheeks and lips and lax skin on the face and neck.

We offer industry leaders Juvéderm® and Restylane® products for our patients looking to de-age their skin with fillers. Both fillers contain hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that binds and holds moisture in the skin, plumping it up and keeping it well-toned.

Fillers can last anywhere from 6-18 months, after which you can repeat the treatment.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion was approved by the FDA for aesthetic treatment in 1996. This minimally invasive procedure renews overall skin tone and texture. It can help improve the appearance of skin affected by sun exposure, fine lines and wrinkles, acne, hyperpigmentation, and other conditions.

During your appointment, you’ll be reclined in a chair. Your provider uses a handheld device to gently spray fine particles of aluminum oxide or sodium bicarbonate onto your skin, which removes the outermost layer. A suction device removes the damaged or dead tissue, revealing fresh, healthy skin. Once through, we apply a moisturizer and sunscreen to your skin to nourish and protect it.

Laser resurfacing

Microdermabrasion is a mild treatment, meaning if you have acne, large solar lentigines, scars, creases, or lines, laser skin resurfacing may be a better option for you.

Laser skin resurfacing removes the skin layer by layer with precision. The new skin cells that form during the healing process give the skin a tighter, younger-looking surface.

People with darker skin tones are usually considered better candidates for microdermabrasion because laser therapy can lead to hyperpigmentation.

If you’re looking for smoother, younger-looking skin without going under the knife, contact Arizona Ocular & Facial Plastic Surgery at our Scottsdale, Arizona, location, or book online with us today.